Nicholas Rossi, Accused of Faking Death and Using False Identities, Appears in Court with Different Name and British Accent

Man Accused of Faking Identity and Fleeing Country to Avoid Rape Charges Appears in Utah Court

Nicholas Rossi, the man accused of sexually assaulting multiple women and evading prosecution through the use of false identities, made a dramatic appearance in a Utah court this week. Rossi, who is facing a rape charge in Utah, appeared via video link from the Utah County jail, his face partially covered by an oxygen mask.

During the hearing, a judge asked Rossi if he was Mr. Rossi, to which he responded with a different name and a British accent. He identified himself as Arthur Knight Brown and provided a birth date that differed from the one listed in court records. Prosecutors noted that Rossi had not accurately admitted his name or birth date, to which Rossi objected, claiming it was hearsay.

This bizarre episode is just the latest in a series of strange events surrounding Rossi’s case. Authorities allege that he has used multiple aliases, fled the country, and even attempted to fake his own death to avoid prosecution. After being arrested in Scotland in 2021, a Scottish court ruled that Rossi could be extradited to the United States.

Rossi, also known as Nicholas Alahverdian, arrived in Utah this month to face charges related to a 2008 alleged rape in Orem. He is also facing a separate rape charge in Salt Lake County. Investigators believe that Rossi has used at least 10 aliases and has been known to switch between British, Irish, and American accents, depending on the identity he is using at the time.

Authorities state that Rossi’s attacks followed a pattern. He would meet women online, convince them to meet him alone, and then initiate inappropriate contact. If the women tried to leave, he would threaten suicide or force non-consensual encounters.

In 2017, Utah investigators reviewing old sexual assault kits discovered a DNA profile that matched Rossi’s in a 2008 rape case. Around the same time, it was discovered that Rossi had fled to Dublin, Ireland. An online obituary claiming his death appeared in January 2020, but there is no official record of his death.

Rossi has consistently denied being the rape suspect, claiming mistaken identity. However, his fingerprints have been matched to those provided by US law enforcement, and witnesses have described his distinctive tattoos.

Rossi’s next hearing is scheduled for January 26 in Utah, where he will face charges for the alleged sexual assaults..